BOGOTA - A trial date has been set in the case in which Bogota’s mayor was punched in the face after probable cause was found based on the testimony presented to a Superior Court judge on July 17 in Hackensack.

Judge Roy F. McGeady will allow a simple assault charge against Salvatore Trotta, a Florida resident and father of a Bogota resident, to proceed to trial along with a harassment charge against Bogota Mayor Tito Jackson.

The trial is set for Sept. 25.

Both charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 3 outside of the Bogota Recreation Center, which was in use as a polling place that day for the Bogota Democratic Party’s primary election.

After voting in the election, Jackson had left the polling area and exited the building into the parking lot. Both men testified that they did not know each other prior to the incident, but gave differing accounts as to the events that actually took place that day.

In his testimony, Jackson said that he found Trotta standing next to his vehicle. As he approached him, Trotta extended his hand and asked if he was Mayor Jackson and identified himself as the father of Tina Trotta, a candidate in that day’s primary and a resident currently involved in an unrelated lawsuit in Bogota.

Jackson testified that Trotta seemed to be very agitated and would not let go of his hand as he confronted him about statements being made about his daughter in town.

As he attempted to leave the parking lot, Jackson testified, he reached for his cell phone to call the police and had it knocked out of his hand by Trotta. He attempted to walk back into the recreation center, only to be pushed from behind and have the phone fall to the ground a second time.

"I re-dialed the police and made the connection and told them I was at the recreation center and needed help," Jackson said. "He really became irate at this point."

Finishing his testimony, Jackson said that Trotta then came around in front of him, struck him on the left side of the face with a closed fist and pushed him into the back of a car.

As for Trotta, he testified that he had simply stopped by the polling place to see what the voter turnout was like when Jackson came out of the recreation center. Trotta stated that he believed the mayor thought he was a potential voter and walked over to him with his hand extend to introduce himself.

After learning that he was speaking to the mayor, Trotta asked Jackson if he was responsible for the harassment of his daughter and identified himself as Tina Trotta’s father.

"He got very irate when I mentioned her name," Trotta said. "He thrust two hands into my chest and drove me backwards. I went back about three feet."

Trotta said that Jackson referred to his daughter in a derogatory manner and used an expletive before he lunged toward him a second time. That is when Trotta swung with a closed fist in order to defend himself from the attack.

After the hearing, Jackson declined to comment. His lawyer, Sara Bernstein, relayed her client’s hope that the case would be settled before the late-September trial date.

"Hopefully the matter can be resolved prior," Bernstein said. "If they can’t, we certainly have no hesitation with going forward. There were witnesses that have seen things and other matters that will come to light."

Trotta, meanwhile, disputed many of the details in the mayor’s testimony and reiterated his stance that he only acted in self-defense.

"I stopped his initial assault, I never pushed him in the back like he said," Trotta said. "I punched him because he shoved me backwards and came at me irate. I just defended myself."

Trotta is charged with simple assault, a disorderly person offense. The maximum fine is $1,000 and maximum jail sentence is six months. Jackson is charged with harassment, a petty disorderly person offense. The maximum fine is $500 and maximum jail sentence is 30 days. Jackson would also have to vacate the mayor’s office in Bogota if he is convicted.